Furniture glide



June 44, 1957 J. A. sKUPAs 2,794,205

FURNITURE GLIDE 'Filed Aug. 30, 1956 1N VEN TOR. Jahw H. .SKU/ws.

United States Patent O FURNITURE GLIDE John A. Skupas, Evansville, Ind.,

Caster Corporation, Evansville,

assigner to Faultiess Ind., a corporation This invention relates to afurniture glide of the type having a sliding base provided with a stemto be inserted in a leg or support for furniture and the like.

More particularly the invention pertains to such a glide wherein thebase is formed of a molded resilient or elastic material such as nylon,and is generally cup-shaped with an inner molded concave bearing seatfor the stem. The supporting and gliding surface of the base, due to itsconvexity of design, resiliency and elasticity, enables the slide to bemaneuvered easily without marring, marking or staining the lloors orfloor coverings as may occur in the use of the usual glide provided witha sheet metal or plastic base.

It is of further importance in such glides that the stem be interlockedwith the base, but in such manner that it will be free to tilt in alldirections to a total included angle of movement of about forty degreesabout the azimuth as in the ball and socket type. With the stem providedwith an enlarged convex foot portion of the same convexity as theconcave bearing seat formed in the base, it may swivel thereon up to atwenty degree angle in all directions. With this arrangement, a suitablemetal retaining cap freely embraces the stern and foot portion, beingcrimped about the edge of the base to retain the foot of the stem insliding seated engagement with the concave bearing seat of the base.

The feature of this invention lies in the provision of a biasing membersuch as a compression spring interposed between the foot of the stem andthe retaining cap to exert such tension therebetween as to maintain thefoot properly seated in the bearing seat of the base while permitting itto slide or rock snugly therein to different angular positions. Throughthis medium, undesirable noise or rattle will be eliminated, to whichthe resilient and elastic base will contribute by reason of its noisedampening characteristic.

Thus a noiseless glide is provided by a simple and economic structurethat may be easily maneuvered free of marring, marking or staining oorsor floor coverings.

The full nature of the invention will be understood from theaccompanying drawing and the following description and claims.

In the drawing there is shown a central vertical section through thebase and cap of the glide with the stem and spring in elevation, aportion of the stem-mounting socket being broken away.

By way of illustrating one modification of the invention there is showna furniture glide comprising a base 10, stern retaining cap 11, stem 12and stem-mounting socket 13. The base 10 is molded of a resilient orelastic material, preferably nylon, into a cup-shaped form with exterioroor engaging surface curved upwardly to provide a rounded periphery asindicated at 14 and terminating in va anged rim 15. interiorly of thecup-shaped "ice base there is formed a concave bearing seat 16 to besnugly tted by a convex foot portion 17 formed on the supported end ofthe stem 12.

The cap 11 is sheet metal of inverted dish shape to surround the stem atits crown in slightly spaced relation as at 18, to permit free playtherebetween. The periphery of the cap is crimped over the flanged rim15 at the base to iirmly secure the cap and base together. The stem isformed to be removably inserted in the socket 13 in the usual manner.

The rounded foot 17 is of the same arcuate curvature as the bearing seat16 so that the stem may be tilted about the radial center thereof withinthe confines of the spacing 18 of the cap, or to :an included angle ofmovement of about 40 degrees. To yieldingly hold the foot portion in itsseat 16, it is provided with a peripheral terminal shoulder 19 whichprovides a bearing for a biasing member or coiled spring 20 interposedbetween the foot and cap. Said spring is assembled therebetween undertension to exert a downward pressure on the foot, holding it rmly insliding contact with its seat to thereby prevent any play resulting inundesirable noise or rattle, while permitting the stem to freely tiltrelative to the base.

While the invention has been disclosed and described in some detail inthe drawing and foregoing description, they are to be considered asillustrative and not restrictive in character, as other modificationsmay readily suggest themselves to persons skilled in this art and withinthe broad scope of the invention, reference being had to the appendedclaims.

The invention claimed is:

1. A furniture glide comprising a cup-shaped molded nylon base withrounded upstanding walls terminating in an outwardly anged rim, acentral concave bearing seat formed interiorly of said base, a mountingstem having an enlarged foot portion formed with a convex supportingsurface nested in said bearing seat and of the same arcuate curvature,said foot terminating upwardly in a shoulder, a retaining cap freelyembracing said stem and foot crimped to the rim of said base, and acoiled spring interposed under compression between said shoulder andretaining cap.

2. A furniture glide comprising a base having an outer supportingsurface on one side, an inner concave bearing seat on the opposite sideof said base, a mounting stem having an enlarged foot portion formedwith a convex supporting surface nested in said bearing seat andterminating upwardly in a shoulder, a retaining cap freely embracingsaid stem and foot secured to said base, and a coiled spring interposedunder compression between said shoulder and retaining cap.

3. A furniture glide comprising a cup-shaped molded nylon base withrounded upstanding walls terminating in an outwardly flanged rim, acentral concave bearing seat formed interiorly of said base, a mountingstem having an enlarged foot portion formed with a convex supportingsurface nested in said bearing seat and of the same arcuate curvature,said foot terminating upwardly in a shoulder, a retaining cap freelyembracing said stem and foot crimped to the rim of said base, and abiasing member interposed between said foot portion and retaining cap tomaintain said foot and base in bearing engagement to prevent rattletherebetween.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 822,963Little June 12, 1906

